The Greater Northampton Chamber of Commerce (GNCC) Board of Directors has announced a new President and Vice President. The newly elected leaders bring extensive business experience and community leadership, as well as a rich history with the GNCC and a deep commitment to the Chamber’s mission.
At its February meeting, the Board of Directors of the GNCC elected Meghan McCormick to serve as President, and Lindsay Barron Labonte to serve as Vice President. Both McCormick and Labonte have served on the Ambassador Committee of the GNCC, the Annual Meeting Committee, as well as the 2022 Connect Campaign, where Labonte also served as co-chair.
Meghan McCormick is a Northampton native who knows the Pioneer Valley well. Before becoming a Realtor, she spent several years studying with an Olympic equestrian in Vermont, and later ran horse farms, competed in equestrian events, and trained horses and riders in Vermont, Massachusetts, and Alabama.
As a Realtor, Meghan is known for the depth of her knowledge, her exceptional communication skills, and her positive outlook. She works hard for buyers and sellers to ensure their experience is as smooth and stress-free as possible. She is deeply committed to the community in which she lives and works. Meghan previously served as President of the Lion’s Club and as board director of Northampton Youth Football League and Hamp Crew. She lives in Northampton and has two children; one is a student at Northampton High School, the other is a student at Wheaton College.
“My connection to the Chamber is over a decade in the making,” said McCormick. “I started going to the Arrive@5s and other networking events and soon found myself on the Ambassador Committee, which led to many more volunteer roles. It also gave me the opportunity to meet so many local business owners and great exposure to the amazing community we have. I am so looking forward to my time as President of the Board.”
Lindsay Barron Labonte has over 15 years of industry experience at Applied Mortgage, and has been individually ranked as the #1 Loan Originator at a Western Massachusetts Mortgage Company (Hampshire, Franklin, Hampden, and Berkshire counties) by number of units for 2019, 2020, and 2021. She has been recognized by Scotsman Guide as a Top 1% Woman Loan Originator and was featured in Mortgage Banking Magazine’s 2022 Powerful Women of Mortgage Banking. A core part of Applied Mortgage’s stated mission is to support the community by giving back to over 30 local non-profit organizations through their time, talent, and treasure.
“The GNCC has been instrumental in supporting my career as a young woman entrepreneur,” said Labonte. “With many years as a member and the last 5 years serving on the Board, I have enhanced both my business and personal networks as well as experienced the privilege of being part of a group that is adding vibrancy to the community, organizations, and individuals. I look forward to building connections for others and learning more about what drives our community in my role as Vice President.”
“I am honored to have such a dedicated and enthusiastic President and Vice President leading our Board of Directors,” said Vince Jackson, Executive Director of the GNCC. “Meghan and Lindsay have been involved in so many of our important programs over the years, and their new roles are a natural next step in our ongoing partnerships.”